Posts tagged ‘childhood’
“The Gift”
“The Gift” 
So, I finally finished one (of five) prompts for my “Enchanted Visions” artist submissions. The prompt was “The Gift” and I decided to capture the sweet innocence of my friend’s little girl. I adore portraiture (especially children) and at this point, I am not sure I will even make prints of her. I’d rather include her in my children’s book (which I am writing), with a poem, entitled, “The Gift.” I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!
“Ezra”
Sweetest child,
dry your tears..
come out into the light,
we yearn to see your little face,
to see you spread your wings and fly.
Little fae,
play your drum,
Bring forth a new day.
Spring has come,
to kiss your face,
embrace you with new life.
Sweetest child,
the world awaits
with open hearts and love.
…fly into her waiting arms,
little fairy child,
…you are finally here to stay!
Erin R. Hogan ©2014
3/8/2014
“Fionna’s Song” (work-in-progress)
I am nearing completion on an impromptu illustration to accompany a new, original poem I have written. The air is warm, flowers are in bloom and I am ready to enjoy my favorite season of the year…spring!
“Forest Friends”-A meeting in the woods…
The tiny pitter-pat of feet danced upon moss and mushrooms as Abigail walked through the woods along the creekside path…
“Cousins”-a work-in-progress portrait
A few months back I started sketching the composition for this piece from a photo of two (then) toddler cousins. One of my best friends shared this photo a few years back and it really inspired me. She told me they were looking for fairies and it reminded me of my own discoveries during dusk as a little girl.
“Finders, Keepers!” by Erin Hogan
Have you ever wondered
where the little things go?
When you lose a button,
or a needle to sew?
Have you ever been playing a game
of Scrabble at night,
and “lost” the “E” tile
which causes a fight?
Have you ever been fixing
a squeaky old door,
and the screw you were needing
vanished into thin air from the floor?
Has your coin purse gone missing?
Your postage stamp AWOL?
The house key is hidden,
Where’s the clasp for my shawl?!
Grandma’s pearl earring,
the clock-winding key,
a thumb tack…
…a thimble
….a pink crystal bead.
The odds and the ends,
…all gone astray.
Right under your nose,
in the light of the day.
If you haven’t guessed,
Or have a faint clue.
There’s more to the story
I swear, it is true!
It’s the wee little folk
Who live in your walls.
They hide all your tooth picks
and the shoes for your dolls.
They scavenge,
They pilfer, they spy and they sneak…
…they hide bobby pins,
even now as I speak!
The wee ones are clever,
They scamper like mice,
They abscond with game markers…
…even the dice!
If you listen real careful,
In the dark of the night,
You’ll ear a wee voice
Mocking your plight.
The wee ones that hoard all the things that you “lose”,
Chant a wee phrase with vague little clues.
If you guess where they’re hiding,
And take back what is “theirs”…
…they will humbly serve you;
and learn how to share.
Erin R. Hogan © 2013
The evolution of a fairy village…
Last year I started a project in my side yard next to our herb/veggie garden with my children. Since we have such a tiny back yard, there is minimal room and I wanted to have a special place where my small children can play outside. We had an unsightly sloped ‘dead space’ along side the patio and I was tired of having mini mud slides each time it rained. With a shovel in hand, I began ‘carving’ the dirt and sculpting the foundation for a fairy castle, complete with double streams leading into mosaic tiled pools. I didn’t have a ‘blue print’ per se, but an idea in my mind. Since the whole fairy house concept is based upon an organic and natural flow, it is perfect for small children not accustomed to measuring and precise lines.
I made buckets of quick dry cement and hand applied thin layers of cement and mini river rocks to create a ‘natural’ landscape and rock formations. We had left-over stone tiles from our remodel and I utilized cheap cement stepping stones to make the foundation of multi-elevation castle wings. An ornate wrought iron plant trellis was transformed into the center tower and open-air throne room and purple, solar-powered twinkle lights were woven to the top.
We spent months adding little sea shell mosaics with the bits and pieces we collected along the beach and sea glass treasures for stained glass windows. Every time we go to the park to play, or find stray twigs along the road they go into the ‘fairy castle’ building collection. I enjoy this process of bonding, exploration and upcycling found objects around the house.
For example: a cardboard mailer tube is the turret of a castle, a beer cap is a platter for the fairy banquet, a nut shell a bowl, bird feathers the roofing thatch, etc. My children and I find so many items every where we go and it helps them ‘see’ the world in a different way. I grew-up in nature playing outside building fairy houses, sculpting in the dirt and natural clay on our property, weaving baskets out of vines; and just taking the time to ‘be.’
I will be doing a conceptual break-down of my castle over the next few months, but wanted to share pictures of our troll bridge that I made out of Sculpey clay, rocks, sticks and cork. The troll is still being sculpted and will sit under the bridge. The picture on the top is one of the small gnome cottages along side the castle I made from the cardboard mailer tube and rocks.
Erin Hogan © 2013
Playing with my children is the best part of being a mommy. I have been blessed with this gift of time with them and the memories they are making…priceless!
Mission complete…
I have to admit I am a little sad to finish the final illustration in my ‘Fairy Tale Fantasy’ series. The journey started over a year ago and has spanned from the lonely tower of Rapunzel’s land, to the troll castle in “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.” While the plans of a second fairy tale series are already in the works, I already miss their world. From the time I was a little girl, I read every version of my favorite stories possible. I escaped into their realities through art, writing my own versions, and penning poems inspired by their plights. Maybe, when I feel brave enough I will share…
Purple Eggplants 